The Galactic extinction and reddening from the South Galactic Cap U-band Sky Survey: u band galaxy number counts and u−ru-r color distribution

We study the integral Galactic extinction and reddening based on the galaxy catalog of the South Galactic Cap U-band Sky Survey (SCUSS), where $u$ band galaxy number counts and $u-r$ color distribution are used to derive the Galactic extinction and reddening respectively. We compare these independent statistical measurements with the reddening map of \citet{Schlegel1998}(SFD) and find that both the extinction and reddening from the number counts and color distribution are in good agreement with the SFD results at low extinction regions ($E(B-V)^{SFD}<0.12$ mag). However, for high extinction regions ($E(B-V)^{SFD}>0.12$ mag), the SFD map overestimates the Galactic reddening systematically, which can be approximated by a linear relation $\Delta E(B-V)= 0.43[E(B-V)^{SFD}-0.12$]. By combing the results of galaxy number counts and color distribution together, we find that the shape of the Galactic extinction curve is in good agreement with the standard $R_V=3.1$ extinction law of \cite{ODonnell1994}

Association of sleep behaviors, insulin resistance surrogates, and the risk of hypertension in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the association between midday napping, combined sleep quality, and insulin resistance surrogates and the risk of hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsData were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of hypertension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were grouped as categorical variables and unpaired two-sided Student’s t-test and Spearman correlation analysis were performed to estimate the association between different blood pressure levels and insulin resistance surrogates.ResultsThe overall prevalence rate of hypertension was 50%. Age (OR = 1.056, 95% CI:1.044–1.068), poor sleep quality (OR = 1.959, 95% CI:1.393–2.755), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.821, 95% CI:1.462–2.369), family history of hypertension (OR = 2.811, 95% CI:2.261–3.495), and obesity (OR = 5.515, 95% CI:1.384–21.971) were significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Midday napping for 1–30 min was negatively correlated with the risk of hypertension (OR = 0.534, 95% CI:0.305–0.936, P &lt;0.05).ConclusionPoor sleep quality and obesity are independent risk factors for hypertension. Midday napping (1–30 min) is associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in patients with T2DM

Economic and emission dispatch under the Electricity Market Reform

Nowadays, the global environmental pollution regulations drives the increase in the use of low-carbon sources as an alternative to conventional power generation. Moreover, the UK current energy policy, the Electricity Market Reform (EMR), has a strong focus on the security, affordability and decarbonisation of the energy system. In order to determine the optimal operation strategy from a techno-economics aspect under the EMR in the energy system, a Combined Economic and Emission Dispatch (CEED) model is investigated to solve the optimization problem in the energy system. This is able to find a security and affordability solution for the energy system. In addition, a wind-storage combined system (WSCS) is incorporated in the model. Furthermore, the Carbon Price Floor (CPF) and an Emission Performance Standard (EPS) are applied to model the support of EMR. The research in this thesis is progressive. The CEED model is investigated for a steady state energy system with conventional and wind power. Then the investigated model is developed to a dynamic state model; additionally, the dynamic model takes into account WSCS, which is in order to reduce renewable power uncertainty and the possible cost of waste and reserve power; finally, practical cases are studied using the model. To conclude, increasing the CPF at a low emission limit leads to an increase in the cost of an electrical system, but the increasing cost rate is mitigated by decreasing the emission limit. Furthermore, the CPF is able to dominate the dispatch at high emission limits. Nevertheless, at low emission limits, the EPS has a high impact on the dispatch. In addition, the renewable power has the superiority in both the economics and environment for a mid to long-term strategy for the UK. Moreover, the benefit of the WSCS is noticeable in economics, emissions and robustness

Data Mining in Coal-Mine Gas Explosion Accidents Based on Evidence-Based Safety: A Case Study in China

From an informatics perspective, decision-making failures in accident prevention are due to insufficient necessary safety evidence. Analyzing accident data can help in obtaining safety evidence. Currently, such a practice mostly relies on experts’ judgement and experience, which are subjective and inefficient. Furthermore, due to the inadequate safety-related theoretical support, the sustainable safety of a system can hardly be achieved purposefully. To automatically explore and obtain latent safety evidence in coal-mine data, and improve the reliability and sustainability of coal-mine safety management, a novel framework of combining data mining technology and evidence-based safety (EBS) theory is proposed, and was applied to a coal gas explosion accident. First, the term frequency-inverse document (TF-IDF) and TextRank algorithms were fused to extract keywords, and keyword evolution word cloud maps from the time dimension were drawn to obtain keyword safety evidence. Then, on the basis of the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, the best safety evidence, such as accident causation topics and causation factors, were mined, and safety decisions were given. The results show that accident data mining, based on evidence-based safety, can effectively and purposefully mine the best safety evidence, and guide safety decision making to optimize safety management models and achieve sustainable safety

Data Mining in Coal-Mine Gas Explosion Accidents Based on Evidence-Based Safety: A Case Study in China

From an informatics perspective, decision-making failures in accident prevention are due to insufficient necessary safety evidence. Analyzing accident data can help in obtaining safety evidence. Currently, such a practice mostly relies on experts&rsquo; judgement and experience, which are subjective and inefficient. Furthermore, due to the inadequate safety-related theoretical support, the sustainable safety of a system can hardly be achieved purposefully. To automatically explore and obtain latent safety evidence in coal-mine data, and improve the reliability and sustainability of coal-mine safety management, a novel framework of combining data mining technology and evidence-based safety (EBS) theory is proposed, and was applied to a coal gas explosion accident. First, the term frequency-inverse document (TF-IDF) and TextRank algorithms were fused to extract keywords, and keyword evolution word cloud maps from the time dimension were drawn to obtain keyword safety evidence. Then, on the basis of the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, the best safety evidence, such as accident causation topics and causation factors, were mined, and safety decisions were given. The results show that accident data mining, based on evidence-based safety, can effectively and purposefully mine the best safety evidence, and guide safety decision making to optimize safety management models and achieve sustainable safety

LINC00853 contributes to tumor stemness of gastric cancer through FOXP3-mediated transcription of PDZK1IP1

Abstract Background The incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) are high worldwide. Tumor stemness is a major contributor to tumorigenesis and development of GC, in which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deeply involved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences and mechanisms of LINC00853 in the progression and stemness of GC. Methods The level of LINC00853 was assessed based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and GC cell lines by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. An evaluation of biological functions of LINC00853 including cell proliferation, migration, and tumor stemness was conducted via gain-and loss-of-function experiments. Furthermore, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were utilized to validate the connection between LINC00853 and the transcription factor Forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3). Nude mouse xenograft model was used to identify the impacts of LINC00853 on tumor development. Results We identified the up-regulated levels of lncRNA-LINC00853 in GC, and its overexpression correlates with poor prognosis in GC patients. Further study indicated that LINC00853 promoted cell proliferation, migration and cancer stemness while suppressed cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, LINC00853 directly bind to FOXP3 and promoted FOXP3-mediated transcription of PDZK1 interacting protein 1(PDZK1IP1). Alterations of FOXP3 or PDZK1IP1 reversed the LINC00853-induced biological effects on cell proliferation, migration and stemness. Moreover, xenograft tumor assay was used to investigate the function of LINC00853 in vivo. Conclusions Taken together, these findings revealed the tumor-promoting activity of LINC00853 in GC, expanding our understanding of lncRNAs regulation on GC pathogenesis

Corrosion Studies of Temperature-Resistant Zinc Alloy Sacrificial Anodes and Casing Pipe at Different Temperatures

In order to solve the problem of external corrosion of deep well casing in oil and gas fields, a new type of high-temperature-resistant zinc alloy sacrificial anode material was used. The temperature and corrosion resistance of the new anode material and TP140 casing were investigated by simulating the high-temperature working conditions of a deep well in an oil field using high-temperature and high-pressure corrosion tests and electrochemical tests. The results showed that at 100–120 °C, the corrosion rate of TP140 protected by a sacrificial anode was only one-tenth of that under unprotected conditions, and the minimum corrosion rate of TP140 protected by a sacrificial anode at 100 °C was 0.0089 mm/a. The results of the dynamic potential polarization curve showed that the corresponding corrosion current density of TP140 first increased and then decreased with the increase in temperature. The self-corrosion potential in sacrificial anode materials first increased and then decreased with the increase in temperature, and the potential difference with TP140 gradually decreased